But there was nothing dishonest, sis--nothing dishonest!" The news appeared to have no visible effect upon her.

Something more important than money, more alarming than the ruin which his words implied, distracted her with a vague foreboding of impending evil.

She made no reply to her brother, but sat rigid, eyes staring vacantly ahead, her hands tightly clasped beneath the heavy fur rug that protected the lower part of her body.
The automobile sped on, smoothly as though running on steel rails.

A brisk wind beat against the glass shield and was deflected, leaving only light currents of air to brush the faces of the occupants of the car.
Between Ward and his sister a long silence ensued.
It was broken by the brother.
"Don't you understand the position we're in ?" he inquired.
"I understand," she replied absently.
"And don't you care ?" "Nothing matters now, except Herbert." For weeks the brother had dreaded the moment when he should be compelled to confess the loss of their fortune.

Now, finding that she took it coolly, even indifferently, he decided to go through with it.
"But I haven't finished--you don't know all," he pursued desperately.
"The situation is aggravated by your resolve to leave your husband.